Moving-picture apparatus.



4 sHEBTs--sHEBT I.

Patented Apr. 23

C. S. BATDORF.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS. PPLIOATION FILED 1320.15, 19216.

MIIHIHI IIHIHIH 1 IHHPHIHIIIIHH Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-` WITNESSES C. S. BATDORF.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS,

APPLIOATION FILED DBG.15, 1910.

Patented Apr.' 23, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3( renal-ll UWE/WORd WIM/5.8358

MTU'HNEY v C. S. BATDORF.

MOVING PICTURE APPARATUS,

APPLIGATION FILED DEG.15, 1910.

Patented Apr. 23,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.,

'NIH lll nu mmIIHHHIIIHIIHEHHI u LZ1/L ATTORNEY CHARLES S. BATDORF, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

vMOVING-PICIURE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed December 15, 1910. Serial No. 597,558.

To f/ZZ when@ 'it may concern vBe it known that I, CHARLES S. Bivinoni, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, inthe county of Kings and `State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moving-y Picture Apparatus, ot' which the is aspecification.

The invention relates to iniproven'ients in following moving picture apparatus of the class em` ploying, preferably, a long film, and it consists in the novel features, structure and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, applicable alike to cameras for photographing objects in motion and for projecting machines by which the pictures taken with the use of the camera ai'e thrown upon a screen or exhibited.

rlhe invention is presented in this application as embodied in a camera employing a shutter, a photographic lens, and a film ot usual character.intended by intermittent movements to be carried across the path of the lens and reeeivethe successive impressions or images in accordance with existing methods.

The novelty of' my invention resides in the provision of special Ameans for 'mounting and effecting the travel of the film and arresting the same absolutely and positively at fixed predetermined periods,r the shutter being a ay from the path of the lens during the periods the film is at rest and closing said path during the periods that the film is in motion.I

It is too well known to require special explanation that in moving picture apparatus as heretofore constructed, the cameras are defective in respect of being able to take photographs of' objects in rapid motion dwith the cxtreme accuracy, uniformity of sequence and rapidity requisite to meet the wants of this art, and it is equally well known that hundreds of attempts have been made to remedy the existing objections to this class of apparatus. The chief difficulty in both cameras and projecting machines has arisen in the means employed for moving and controlling the film. In many instances inventors have followed the plan of providing means of various kinds, such as prongs and the like, for engaging successive intermediate sections of the film and pushing the Same across the path of the lens andwhile these machines have operated with more or less success, it has long been obvious that the art requires and deservesv higher development. The character of the final resultl depends greatly on the precision of movements and control of the film, and the purpose of my invention is to proyvide simple and effective means for with extreme accuracy and reliability effecting the proper movements and control of the film 1n cameras and projecting machines. I deem it to be one of the greatest objections to existing cameras using a tape-film that successive intermediate sections of the film are positively engaged by power driven many instances entertaining, not depicting the scene with that faithfulness, smoothness and consistency which should be attained.

In accordance with my invention, one of whose purposes is to simplify moving-pic-A to one end thereof, which is a feature of advantage, and I secure the film positively and uniformly'in its periods of rest by an escapement mechanism which will engage and hold the film at precise predetermined intervals of its length and for precise predetermined periods of time, the motive power or the driving's'h'aft Vcontinuing in movement without interruption during theV at-rest periods ofthe film and acting to keep a tension on the film sufficient for the control of the latter but insufficient to tear the film from the escapement mechanism.

In carrying out my invention I have produced a substantially noiseless mechanism avoiding the clicking noises so common to cameras and projecting machines in this art. The invention will be fully understood from` the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 isv a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the camera showing morel particularly the taire-up roll and the fric? tion clutch therefor; Fig. 3 is a detached sectional view, on a reduced scale, oi a porf tion of the camera taken on the dotted line 3 3 ot Fig. Fig. Ll is a horizontal. longitudinal section, partly broken away, through the camera, on the dotted line 4l ft of Fig. l; Fig. 5 is an enlarged section ci the escapement mechanism of the camera taken on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. It; Figs. 6 and T are enlarged corresponding vieivs of the escapement mechanism representing the two different positions oit' a lever portion thereof; Fig. 8 illustrates a modification of the invention in Which-the lever of the escapement mechanism is arranged to directly engage the iilm in lieu or' an intermediate. sprocket Wheel or part itselil engaging the iilm, Fig. 8 being a detached side elevation,

partly in section, of a portion of the camera;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through a portion ot the camera equipped with the modified escapement mechanism shovvn in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical longitudinal section through a camera equipped with the escapew nient mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9;

and Fig. 11 is a detached vieiv of a piece of a film possessing elongated apertures in its opposite edges to be engaged by the parts of the escapement mechanism shown in Figs.

8, 9 and 10.

l will first describe the invention as presented in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, and then the modied form thereof shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive. l l

Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, 15 designates the box or casing having the usual or any suitable lens holding frame 16 and shutter 17. Within the box 15 l mount upper and lower horizontal transverse shafts 18, 19, both preferably being on the same vertical plane, on Which I mount, re'- spectively, the let-ofi reel or drum 2O and take-up reel or drum 21 for the film 22, which is of the usual character having in its opposite edges evenly spaced holes, my invention not necessarily 'requiring any change in the lms commonly employed in this art. Primarily the film is fastened at one end to the hub of the reel 20 and closely Wound thereon, and thereafter the other end of the film is drawn over the guideirolls 23, Q4 and fastened to the hub of the reel 21 preparatory to the filmbeing Wound on said hub during the rotation of the reel 21 to move the film across the line of the lens. rllhe rolls 23, 2st are on the same vertical plane and between them is a suitable filmguide 25 through which the film passes andwhich is open at its center. The reel 20 is equipped with a friction-brake 26 to prevent its rotation except under a sufficient pull on the film by the reel Z1 to overcome the force of said bralre. The reel Qlis rotated by a cord 27 and friction-pulley 28 (Fig.

.which times the cord 27 and Wheel 2S Will continue in movement but-the reel 2l will remain stationary, the Wheel 28 slipping frietionally against said reel and by its tendency to rotate the same causing the reel to maintain a tension on the film, Awhereby the latter is kept properly taut. The cord Il' passes over a pulley.l 31 s ecined on the power or driving shait 32, which in the present instance is equipped lwith eranlt et) Ytor manual operation. lt obvious that any suitable means may be ein,- ployed ior driving the shaft 3Q, which 'when the camera is in use ivill have a continuous rotation. ln rear of the {ihn-guide Q5 mounted a horizontal transverse shaft :tt upon which are loosely mounted suitably spaced-apart sprocket '-.vheels 35. 36 wh te teeth or ijieripheral projections are delinitclj.v arranged to regularly enter the edge hof s in the film' as the latter Vtravels toward the reel 21, said teeth or projections and consequently the wheels 85, 36 always re maining in engagement with the hlm. lVhen the film 22 is traveling. during its intermittent movements, it etl'eets by its engagement therewith the rotation ol' the ivheels 35, 36, said Wheels having no movement Whatever except that imparted ,to them by the film, and when it is .necessary that the filmremain at rest, as during exi posures, the wheels 35, 3G are, in accordance with my invention, held stationaryand by their engagement ivitli the film hold it stationary. The ivheefls SG are made rotatable merely that they may maintain a constant engagement with the film and they at no time have any effect to cause the film to travel, their function being to hold the iilm, at the proper times, stationary. In. order that the lm may have no possible re verse movement or action at the moments of its respective successive stoppages which might possibly happen due to the suddenness With Which the film isarrested, I provide on the Wheel a smooth annular rim 3T (Figs. 3 and 4) to be engaged by a ballbralre 3S of lrnoivn character adapted to permit the Wheel 35 to rotate in one direction ivith the moving film and prevent any reverse rotation of the wheel and consequently any reverse movement of the film. rlhe Wheels 35, 3G are held stationary, to thus hold the film, at predetermined uniform intervals by mechanism comprising` a series of equally spaced-apart laterally projecting pins 39 on said Wheels, slidable bars o corresponding pins 39 thereofito pass up- 40 having laterally extending stop-plates or flanges 41, and bellscrank levers or members 42 pivotally secured to said bars 40.and comprising arms 43 to bc engaged by the successive pins-39 and moved thereby into engagement with the stops 41, arms 44 connected with springs 45 normally under tension to initially hold the forward ends of the arms 43 depressed (Figs. 1, 5, 6) and forks composed of fingers 46, 47 loosely straddling stops or lugs 48 rigid on the slidable bars 40, the fingers 46 engaging the stops 4S in one position of the bellj-crank members 42 to arrest vthe same t-hereat, asv shown in Fig. 6, andthe fingers 47 preferably engaging said stops in the other position of said members 42, as shown in Fig., 7. The fingers 47 might be omitted .altogether, since when they engage the stops 48 the arms 43 engage the flanges 41 but a more durable construction is presented when the fingers 47 are provided. The bars 40 at their forward ends have slots 49 through which the shaft.. 34 passes and which enable the shaft to support the said ends of said bars and limit their forward and backward sliding p movements. The rear ends of the bars 40 are secured on a transverse horizontal slidable rod 50 whose ends are mounted in guides 151 (Fig. 4) secured to the sides of the box or casing 15. The rod 50 slides back and forth with the bars 40 and imparts slidingmovementthereto, said rod 50 being connected by a link 51 and crank 52 with theshaft` 32, whose rotation causes said crank and link to uniformly effect a 4forwardly and' backwardly sliding movement. of the rod 50 and bars 40 with the parts hereinbefore enumerated carried by said bars. lVhein the bars 40 are in their forward position and while moving rearwa rilly therefrom with the bell-crank meinbers in their initial position shown in Fig. (i, the reel 21 may during its rotation effect. the travel of'a predetermined length of the film, previously exposed to receive an impression or image, from the line of the lens and during this travel of the film it will rotate the wheels 3G and cause wardly against the for Yard ends ofthe bellcrank members 43 then in the path of said pins, as represented in Figs. 5 and (i, and move said members upwardly in opposition to the force of the. springs 45 until said members reach and become arrested by the stop flanges 41 and the fingers 47 engage the stops 43, as shown iu Fig. 7, and thereupon the wheels 35, 3G will be temporarily locked against further rotation and hold the film absolutely stationary. The wheels 35, 36 remain locked against rotation and hold the film stationary to receive an image until the crank which is in constant motion, draws the link .'71, rod 50 and bars 40frearwardly from the position said bars are'shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and then drivessaid parts forwardly again. lVhen the crank 52 draws the bars 40 rearwardly the bell-crank members 43 slide rearwardly from the wheel-pins which engaged them (Fig. 7l and turn downwardly under the force of the springs-454 and at the same time the stopflanges 41 move rearwardly over said pins 39,'as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 andcontinue. the holding of the wheels 3G and film 22 stationary, and when the bars 4t) are driven forwardly `again (the members 43 then being in' their lower position) the stopfianges 41 will pass forwardly from over said pins 39 and release the wheels 35, 3G to rotate and the film 22 to have a further traveling movement, the members 43 at the same time beingrthrustforwardly in the path of the succeeding pins 39, which will on the rotation of said wheels engage said members and move them upwardly against. the flanges or. stops 41 as before. The bars 40 constantlyA slide forwardly and rearwardlyand when they are in their forward position and starting rearwardly, with the bell-crank members 43 inclined downwardly. they permit] the rotation of the wheels 35, 36 and the travel of the film until corresponding pins 39 on said wheels move said members 43 upwardly against the stops 41, and they then hold the. said wheels and "film stationary until the bars move4 rearwardly (releasing the members 43 from'said pins, Fig. 5) and then forwardly again to carry the stops 41 from said pins.A The atrest or exposure periods of the film are', thus, during those portions of the rearward movements of the bars 40 that the pins 39 are against the members 43 while the latter are engaged with the stops 41 and against the said stops 41 and during those portions of the forward movements of said bars 40 thatl said stops 41 remain directly over and engage with said pins. The "periods at. which the wheels 35, 36 may rotate and the film perform its traveling movement (the shutter 17 then being in its closed position) are during those portions of the forward movements of the bars 40 which take place after the stops 41 leave the pins 39 engagingkthcm and during those portions of the rearward movements ofsaid bars which occur during the time the succeeding pins 39 are movingthe bell-crank members 43 upwardly against the stops 41. The. pins 3S) are carried on the line of a circletoward the bell-crank members 43 and hence may reach and movesaid members ulnvardly during the rearward movement of the bars 40 yand without requiring any stoppage of said bars. During the forward and backward movement of the bars 40 with pins 3) of the wheels 35, 36 against the ui'iwardly turned lever members 43 and against the stop flanges il when said lever members are in their lower position, the wheels 36 remain stationary and hold the film stationary, hcreinbefore explained, but the crank and pulley wheels 3l, 2S may continue in movement, the wheel QSslipping against the end of the reel 2l and while not rotating the latter causing the same to maintain a tension pull on the film then held stationary by the locked wheels 235. 36. in the use of' the camera the crank i323 or other means 'for driving the shaft 32 may be kept in constant motion, but the film will have uniform intermittent movements, said film being locked at predetermined intervals against movement by the locking of the wheels 35, 3G by means of the parts connected with the sliding bars -l-f). ln constructing the camera due regard must be had to the spacing of the pins 39 on the sprocket wheels 3G and the length and location of the lever members liand stop flanges ll so that the intervals of. movement of the film may be of the 1 nedetermincd desired extent. l regard the sliding lr t0 with their members lri. sli and the sprocket wheels 35, 36,'having the pins 39 as an cscapcment mechanism, and this mechanism of the most reliable character in effecting he proper, accurate. predetermined periods the successive sections 'of the film shall remain at rest. The shutter 1T is the ordinary rotary shutter employed in moving picture machines, and it may receive its rotary motion from the driving shaft 32 through beveled gear wheels and auxiliary shaft The shutter 1T is. employed in my camera for identically the same purposes it is used to accomplish in 'other' cameras.

fhe guide will preferably'be formed from sheet metal and secured upon a rod extending transversely across the casing l and provided on one end with acrank fiby which the rod may have a partialrotarymovement imparted to it for swinging` the guide forwardly from the immediate vicinity of the sprocket wheels 36 when it is desired to free the film from said wheels and also when it is desired to apply the film strung through said guide, to said wheels. .The crank 5G is formed with a hinged part 5T carrying a pin adapted to enter a recem provided for it in -the casing l5, as shown in Fig-sl., whereby to hold the rod stationary. is hinged so as to enable a ready detachment otl the pin 5S from its engagement with the recess in the easing 15. )t spring 59 carried by a rigid portion ofthe crank 5G normally exerts a pressure against the hinged member 57 tending to press the pin against the casing l5. The spring 5f) serves to detachably lock the pin 5S in its recess in the side of the casing l5.

The section 57 of the crank' My invention is not limited to the details of any special mechanism constituting the escapement for effecting the successive stoppages of the film/land in Figs. 8, 9 and l() I illustrate a modified form of escapement mechanism which is entirely reliable and 'adapted to engage Athe film without the employmentof the sprocket wheels 35, 36. ln. the construction shown in Figs. S, and l0 I employ, for each edgeof the film, a slid able bar 60 having a rearwardly projecting finger Gl and carrying a bell-crank member 62 which affords a forwardly projecting finger 63 to cooperate with the finger 6l in controlling the film, which in this modification l number 64. The bellcrank member GQ is pivotallyv mounted on' a bearing (i5 and has its short arm connected with the bar GO by means of a coiled spring (i6 whose tension is normally exerted to turn the finger (i3 upwardly to the. limit` permitted by the shoulders ('37, GS, respectively, on the member G2 vand bearing G5. The film 6st is formed in its opposite edges with elongated openings (if), as shown in VFig. il, and these openings at each edge of the film are utilized in connection with the fingers 6l, G3 in controlling the intermittent movements of the film, The finger 61 is rigid on the bar 60 and the finger (33 may have a pivotal movement on the bearing G5. ln the position of the parts shown in Fig. 8 it may be understood that the bar (if) is on its forward movement and that the film is being pulled downwardly by the take-up reel. lt will be' observed that the finger G3 during the forward movement of the bar G0 has entered a hole 69 in the film G4. During the downward movement of the film G4, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 8. the film acting against the finger G3 will turn the latter downwardly until its forward end meets and becomes arrested by the rear end of the finger 61, and thereupon no further p down vard movement of the finger 6? being permitted, the lm Gl will become arrested and remain so during the reverse travel of the bar 60, which will carrythe finger 6i into the opening in the film occupied by the finger (33, and until'the bar 60 has moved sufficiently forward again to carry the finger (3l from the said opening in the film. lVhen the tinger 63 has been moved downwardly against the finger Gl by the film and the bar G0 moves rearwardly to carry the finger. (il into the opening in the film occupied by the finger 653, the finger 63l will be carried rearwardly from the film and the spring 6G will turn said finger upwardly into suitable position to again enter an opening 69 in the film on the succeeding forward movement of the bar GO. The forward movement ot the bar GO operates to retract the finger 6l from the opening in the film and when this happens the finger 63 then in its upwardly turned position will have entered another hole in the film so that during the following vthe rear end of the finger 6l preparatory during the succeeding rearward movement of the bar 60 to the finger 61 passing into the opening in the film which engaged the finger G3 and locking the film against movement until on the succeeding forward movement of the bar (30 the finger 61 is carried from its engagement with the film. -The rear end of the finger 6l is beveled downwardly and rearwardly and the forward end of the finger (i3 iscorrespondingly beveled, and hence during the rearward movement of the bar GO the rear end of the finger 6l may assuredly enter the opening in the film with the forward end of the finger 63 therein, so as to engage and lock the film, befre the finger (3i-.l can spring upwardly therefrom The beveling of the ends of the fingers 6l,

($23 is a detail which is carried out, also, in the construction of the escapement mechanism shown -in Figs. 6 and 7. I mount the bearings for the bell-crank members 62 on a transverse rod or rock-shaft 70 carried by the bars (30 and upon one end of the rod 701 provide a crank 7l of the construction I have'hercinbefore described as being on theend of the rod 5o (Fig. Lf). By means of the crank 7l and its parts the rod 70 may be locked in normal stationary relation to the bars GO, as shown in Fig. 8, and by turning the crank downwardly and engaging its pin with the hole 72 in a depending part ofthe bar 60, the bearings G5 may be swung 'rearwardly on the arc of'a circle and carry the bell-crank levers G2 sufficiently from the fingers 61 to enable both the fingers 61 and 63 to be free of the film (iet. When the parts are in their normal operative position shown in Fig. 8, it will be seen that one finger 6l or the other finger' 63 is always in one of the openings of the film, and hence it is obvious that the film is kept under constant control by means which hold `the film in vits at rest positions during uniform or unvarying successive periods. The reels 20, 21 of Fig. l are employed in the construction shown in Fig. 10, Figs. 1 and l0 differing mainly in the fact that the 'escapement mechanism of Fig. 10 differs from that shown in Fig. l in details of construction, both mechanisms having the same duty to perform which is to effectually and reliably hold the film against movement during successive unvarying periods and to permit lthe film to have a uniform intermittent movement'under a. force exerting a pull on one end of the film, such pull keeping the film under control and coperating with the escapement mechanism in securing in the film that precision of action so necessary in ob- -taining photographs or projecting images faithfully depicting scenes or objects or persons 1n motion.

that I claim as my invention' and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. An apparatus of the character described comprising a film to be carried by 4 intermittent movements across an exposure opening, let-off and take-up mechanisms for said film, driving means connected With the take-up mechanism for causing the same to exert a pull on the film from the end thereof and effect thereby the travel ofthe film,

and a two-part escapement mechanism connected with the driving mechanism and one part of which Ais independently movablel to its operative'position by the film.

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising a film having along itsl length spaced openings therein, let-off 'and take-up mechanisms for said film, means connected with the take-up mechanism for causing the same to exert a pull on the film at the end thereof `and effect thereby the travel of the film,- and escapement mechanism engaging the film at the openings therein to arrest the same at Apredetermined intervals of its length and for predetermined periods at the' exposure opening of the apparatus, said escapement mechanism comprising a stop operable from the driving mechanism and a coperating independently movable member also connected with the driving mechanism and operable on its movement to its operative position by the film during its movements.

An apparatus of the character described comprising a film having along its length spaced openings therein, let-off and take-up mechanisms for said film, means connected with the take-up mechanism for causing the same to exert a pull on the film at the end thereof and effect thereby the travel of the film, and escapement mechanism in constant engagement with the film at successive openings therein for controlling its periods of rest, said escapement mechanism comprising a stop operable from the driving mechanism and a cooperating independently movable member also connected with the driving mechanism and operable on its movement to its operative position by the film during its movements.

4. An apparatus of the character de-y .across said opening, and eseapement mechanism operable from said driving mechanism engaging said film at the openings therein for controlling its periods of rest at said opening, said escapementniechanism comprising a stop operable ,from the driving mechanism and a cooperating independently movable member also connected with lthe driving mechanism and operable on its movement to its operative position by the film during its movements.

5. An apparatus of the character described comprising a ilm to be carried by intermittent movements across the exposure opening and having spaced openings therein along its length, driving means connected with one end otsaid tilm ior drawing the same across said opening, escapement mechanism operable from said driving means engaging said film at the openings therein for arresting the same during its intended pe-. riods oit rest, and means enabling the drive mechanism to continue in motion during the at-rest periods of the iihn and maintain a controllable tension thereon, said escapement mechanism comprising a stop operable from the driving mechanism anda cooperating independently movable member also connected with the driving mechanism and op-l erable on its movement to its operative position by the film during its movements.

G. An apparatus of the character de -scribed comprising driving mechanism engaging the tilm atone end for drawing the same across the exposure opening, and a two-part escapement mechanism connected with the driving mechanism and one part of which is independently movable to its op erative position by theilm.v

7. An apparatus ot the character described comprising a ilm to be carried by intermittent movements across an exposure opening and havingl spaced openings along its length, a let-ott reel for said film, a takeup reel for the same and to which one end of the lilmis secured,A driving means connected with the take-up reel for effecting the travel ot the iilm by power exerted at the end thereof, andA escapement mechanism operable from the driving mea-ns to engage successive openings in the film at a location intermedi ate said reels for controlling the at-rest periods ot the film said escapernent mechanism comprising a sprocket wheel constantly engaging the openings in the film thereby against said stop tor arresting the wheel and tilm, and means connecting the slide with the drivemechanism ot' the apparatus.

8.-;in apparatus of the character described comprising a film, a reel on which said lilm is wound, a rewinding reel to which one end of the film is secured, means for rotating the latter reel, and an escapoinent mechanism between the reels engaging the openings in the tilm for arresting the latter at predetermined intervals ot its length and for predetermined periods of time, said escapcment mechanism comprising a stop ope able trom the driving mechanismv and a coperating independently movable member also connected with the driving mechanism and operable on its movement to its operative position by the `film during its movements.

9. An apparatus ot' the character de scribed comprising a til-m', a reel on which said ilm is wound, a rewinding reel to which one end of the iilm is secured, means 'tor rotating therewinding reel and adapted toslip during the at-rest periods of the film without losing control thereof, and an escapement mechanism between the reels engaging the openings in the film tor arresting the latter at predetermined intervals or its length andl for predetermined periods of time, said escapement mechanism comprising a stop operable from the driving mechanism and a coperating independently movable member also connected with the driving mechanism and operable on its movment to. its operative position by the iilm during its movements.

Signed at New York city, in the county ot' New York and State of New York, this 13th day of December A. D. 1910.

' CHARLES S. BATDORF.

Witnesses ARTHUR MARION, CEAS'. C. GILL. 

